Although most people have heard about it, inflammation is an often misunderstood condition. A lot of people make the common mistake of equating inflammation with infection. According to a Medical News Today article by Christian Nordqvist, infection is caused by a bacterium, virus or fungus while inflammation is the body's response to it. In other words, infection can cause inflammation.
What is Inflammation?
Inflammation is part of the body's immune response. It is necessary for the body to begin the healing process, in fact without inflammation wounds and infections would never heal.
If inflammation is part healing, why should it be a cause for concern?
Sometimes, a situation occurs where the body's immune response is defective and it body starts attacking its own healthy cells, such as the case of arthritis according to a WebMD article. In autoimmune diseases, inflammation needs to be managed to prevent further damage to the body's healthy tissues.
Inflammation can also go on for a long time which is called chronic inflammation. Without treating its underlying cause, the body is exposed to a whole new set of health risks. For example, chronic inflammation has been linked to arterial plaque buildup and its subsequent risk for stroke and heart attacks according to Catharine Paddock PhD. Depending on the location of the inflammation, it could also lead to other diseases such as high blood pressure and kidney failure if there is inflammation of the kidneys.
How might chronic inflammation be treated?
As stated beforehand, the underlying cause of inflammation should be treated. In a recent Fox News article by Amie Valpone, suggests trying the food route first. She stressed that foods known to promote inflammation should be avoided. These include too much salt, sugar, white flours, processed foods as well as refined vegetable oils.
Having eliminated the inflammatory-inducing diet, Valpone suggests eating more anti-inflammatory foods. These ten food items in particular have proven their potency in assisting the body get rid of chronic inflammation naturally:
1. Raw Walnuts
2. Blueberries
3. Cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower)
4. Ground flaxseeds
5. Fermented vegetables (such as kimchi, sauerkraut)
6. Dark leafy greens (such as spinach, collard greens, Swiss chard, kale)
7. Fresh ginger
8. Turmeric
9. Garlic
10. Fresh rosemary
Valpone testifies that, after enduring 10 years, she was finally able to rid of her inflammation by eating healthier. In addition, she was able to get rid of her headaches, insomnia, exhaustion, Lyme disease, PCOS, candida and leaky gut - diseases and symptoms she suspects are caused or aggravated by her chronic inflammation - for good.
Perhaps nature has already provided a potent medicine for inflammation in the form of these anti-inflammatory foods. It certainly doesn't hurt to try them and, for certain, one will end up healthier after incorporating Valpone's suggestions into one's daily diet.